Mercy misson Pair on the road helping Ukrainian refugees to safety
CHELSEA FC HOTEL COULD ALSO BE USED BUT PLAN FACES LEGAL HURDLES
SIMON Roberts flew out to Europe just days after he saw the conflict unravelling in Ukraine.
Bristol-born Simon, 49, is a selfemployed father of two from Stockwood.
He joined forces with friend Brian Phillips to help as many people as they can in Ukraine get to a safe zone.
Speaking to the Post by phone on the road about two hours from Ukraine, Simon said: “It’s a long jaunt but very rewarding. The scenes we’ve seen here are horrific, a very sad state of affairs.”
Simon and his team were heading down to find a family who had been lost between Lviv and the Polish border as they hadn’t been seen or heard from for days.
“We’re in desperate need to try and locate this family and try and get them out,” he said.
Having been deeply moved by the harrowing scenes, they quickly arranged to fly out on March 1. They collected charitable donations from pick-up points in Bournemouth and headed for the western city of Lviv to assist families seeking to cross the Polish border.
They were shocked to see babies, children and women walking miles to get to a safe crossing, with many Ukrainian men remaining in cities and towns to help fight the war.
He described seeing devastated families with just a single bag of belongings having fled Russian attacks at a moment’s notice.
He said: “We’ve tried to do the best we can ... Obviously, we’re talking over two million people, but the little things we do are making a difference.”
Families in the UK are being encouraged to offer their homes to refugees if they have space, with the Government recently announcing a £350 per month support scheme for those who are able to help.
But not everyone has been able to flee the country, with thousands still travelling on foot to border countries such as Poland. On landing in Europe, Simon’s team acquired a people carrier and equipped it with new tyres with the help of family and friends in Germany.
He said their aim is to try to do as many trips as they can to and from Lviv to Poland, although sometimes they travel further afield to places like Germany and the Czech Republic.
Most nights he and his team sleep in the minivan in sub-zero temperatures after 15-hour days driving to and from the Ukrainian border.
He said: “If we can, we try and get a hotel or lodgings many hours from the border because everything is so wrapped up with refugees everywhere.”
Despite having been there for almost two weeks, he said he was continuously shocked by what he has seen in eastern Europe.
“It’s absolutely devastating to see that this can happen in this day and age. It’s incredible we’re actually living through this in our lifetime.”
Asked how his own family felt about him risking his life to help others, he said they are supportive but scared.
“There’s a lot more shelling closer to the border, but our safety is paramount so we can carry on helping others to make sure they’re safe,” he said.
Simon and his team will be heading back to the UK in around eight days to briefly spend some time with their families. They will consider flying back out and hiring another vehicle to continue helping people get to safety.
Simon and Brian’s crowdfunder has drawn a huge response from friends, family and strangers, reaching a total to date of almost £8,000.
With an overall target of £10,000, there’s still a way to go to ensure they can continue providing a vital lifeline for women and children fleeing the conflict. If there is any money left over after they have finished the rest of the funds will be donated to Action Aid.
To donate visit https://tinyurl. com/2ckyr7t4.
THE GOVERNMENT is exploring whether Ukrainian refugees could be housed in the mansions of sanctioned Russian oligarchs, Downing Street has said.
Ministers have faced calls for the vast houses of those impacted by measures imposed by the UK Government to be turned into homes for those fleeing the war in Ukraine.
Yesterday, Downing Street confirmed it was examining whether the properties could be used, although it is thought new legislation would be required.
It was also suggested Chelsea Football Club’s hotel could be used after owner Roman Abramovich was added to the Government’s hit list.
Asked about the mansions, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Certainly that’s something we are looking at. I think in the first instance the two (visa) routes that we have are how we expect people will be housed in the UK, either through family or through this sponsorship route.”
Earlier, Sajid Javid said although the mansions should not be the “first place” considered, there was work going on to see if they can be used.
“I think there’ll be some legal hurdles to try and do that, but it’s right that (Michael Gove) looks broadly to see how we can house more and more Ukrainian refugees.”
Downing Street also did not rule out Chelsea Football Club’s hotel being used to house Ukrainian refugees.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We would certainly want to see wherever is possible (used), we are open to all options. “There are some challenges around the special licence that has been created in relation to the sanctions.” But “by and large the vast majority of people” coming from Ukraine would be housed under the two routes already announced. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said it would be a form of “poetic justice” to repurpose the mansions. He told Times Radio: “I, for some time, with others, have been complaining about those Russian oligarchs close to (Vladimir) Putin, using our city to launder money by buying homes or businesses. And what’s doubly heart-breaking about the homes they buy is they’re left empty for years. They’re not homes, they’re gold bricks used to launder money.
“I think the Government should be seizing them, and before selling them - because they’ll take some time - they should be using them to house those Ukrainians who are fleeing Ukraine, who we’ll be offering a safe haven in London.
“It’s a form of poetic justice, but also it’s a good use of these many, many empty properties sitting across London simply with dust being gathered inside rather than them being used to house people who need homes.”
Squatters have taken over Oleg Deripaska’s London mansion, declaring it “belongs to Ukrainian refugees”.
Asked about the action the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Squatting in residential buildings is illegal.”
However, he added: “But we are working to identify the appropriate use for seized properties while owners are subject to sanctions.”
It’s a good form of poetic justice, but it’s also a good use of these many, many properties Sadiq Khan